Resilient closure for containers



oct. 17, 1939.

RESILIENT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed March 2o, 1957 w. F. sMrrH i 2,176,513

f Patentedct. 17, 1939y AUNITI-:D 'STATES- .2,176,513 RESlLIENT CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS William Fredrick Smith, Knoxville, Tenn. Application March 20, 1937, Serial No.; 132,035

' 1o claims. (cl. azi-so) The objecty of my invention is. toprovide a resilient closure especially adapted for use in dispensingyof tooth paste, shaving cream, glueor other semi-liquid material ordinarily packed in I tube containers. It is also adaptable for the dispensing of tooth lpowders, face powders and simi- 'lar substances.

More particularly, my'object relates to a resilient closure fastened to an v,ordinary container .o which-will eliminate the following disagreeable conditions prevalent in existing containers, there is no top to lose, no threads to cross and it closes f itself immediately after using thus keeping the,

' paste fresh. In the present type. of container l5 quick setting paste or glue often sets clogging the throat, this necessitates squeezing the tube until the fluid pressure either opens the throat of the tube or the tube breaks, this is eliminated with'the resilient closure as the pressure stress exerted. by' the'ngers is transferred directly to the slit when opening and the slit when closed is of such innitesimal proportions as to be virtually air tight. When applied to a powder conl tainer the resilient closure insures increased sani- .'5 tation and ease of operation with its automaticV Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the resilient closure showing the slit in the 40 open position.

I apply the invention to an ordinary exible metallic tube I adapted to contain tooth paste, shaving cream, or any other article in paste form and designed to discharge it by rolling the tube 45 from the bottom 8 in the conventional manner and by squeezing the resilient closure 2 at points 1 and la. f

'Ihe resilient closure 2 is drawn of thin resilient metal preferable of stainless steel or similar cQr- 50 rosive resisting material with an I shaped slit 3 cut through the metal. On the inside of the resilient metal 2, two pieces of heavier gage metal I and 4a are spot welded or fastened in a suitable manner to the resilient metal 2. 'Ihe function of t5 the pieces t and 4a is to force open the slit 3 when'pressure-is applied at 1 and 1a. vAlso-Whenl the resilient metal 2 springs back whenthe pressure is released at 1 and 1a the pieces 4 and 4a. insure rigidity at the slit and cut od the discharged material cleanly. Also if severe internal fluid 5 pressures accidental or otherwise occur by pressure on the exiblemetallic tube I, the resilient closure 2 closes tighter and the slit 3 reinforced by the pieces 4 and 4a will not allow the contents to discharge. 10

'I'he curved, portion 5 of the resilient closure 2 is so constructed as to allow rolling the flexible metallic tube I from the bottom 8 up into the resilient closure 2 to such proximity as to create a minimum of residue loss. The curved portion l5 45 is omitted and a sidewall 6 is used in the dispensing of tooth powders, face powders, andcontainers ofthe at bottom type whichidonot roll. f All that is required of at bottom containers to" 'adapt them to the resilient closure' is flexibility 20 in the side walls.

Some changs may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts-of my invention. For example, the exible metallic tube I can be alxed to the exterior of the resilient closure 2 instead of the interior as shown on the-drawing, also the resilient closure may befastenedto the paste container or powder container by welding, soldering, bending or a plastic adhesive, without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modied forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention: A

1. 'I'he combination of a collapsible metallic tube with one end of the tube sealed and a convexo-concave resilient metal closurel for the other end, having a longitudinal valve slit in the end of the closure; a transverse slit at each end of the 40 longitudinal valve slit; a curvilineal sidewall extending from each transverse slit to the end of the resilient closure adjacent the collapsible tube; a rigid element, within the closure on each side of the longitudinal slit, amxed to the inside 'of 45 the closure Wall with each of said elements having a width substantially the same as the length of the longitudinal slit and having a length with one end substantially coincidental with the longitudinal slit andthe other end substantially coincidental with the end of the resilient closure adjacent the collapsible tube with said rigid elements being adapted' to cause the longitudinal valve slit to open upon the application of digital pressure.I 56

2. The vcombination of a collapsible metallic tube with one end or the tube sealed and a convexo-concave resilient metal closure. for the other end, having a longitudinal valve slit in the end of the closure; a transverse slit .at each end of the longitudinal valve slit; a curvilineal sidewall .extending from each transverse slit to theend of the resilient closure adjacent the collapsible tube; a uted portion on each side of the longitudinal slit having a width substantially the same as the length of the longitudinal slit and having a length with one end substantially coincidental with the longitudinal slit and the other end substantially coincidental with the end of the resilient closure adjacent the collapsible tube withv said iluted portions'being adapted to cause the longitudinal valve slit to open upon the applicationof digital pressure.

3. The combination of a collapsible tube with one end of the tube sealed and the other end of the tube provided with a convexe-concave closure' =the planosurface, substantially reinforced by a metallic element integrally aillxed thereto..

4. The combination of a collapsible tube with one end of the tube sealed and the other end oi the tube provided with a convexo-cave closure of resilient material having curvilineal sidewalls; a longitudinal valve slit in the top of the closure abutted by a transverse slit on each end: and a portion, each side of the longitudinal slit adjacent to each of the transverse slits a distance of the plano-surface, substantially reinforced by a plurality or ilutes. j

5. The combination of a collapsible tube with one endI or the tube sealed and the other end of the tub'e lprovided with a convexe-concave resilient closure having curvilineal sidewalls; a

longitudinal valve slit in the top abutted by a transverse slit on each end; and a portion, each side. of the lomgitudinal slit adjacent to each of the transverse slits and extending beyond the termination of said slits a distance of the planol surface, substantially reinforced.

6; The combination of a container for powders with one end of the container sealed and a convexo-concave resilient metal closure, for the other end, having a longitudinal valve slit in the end ofthe closure; a transverse slit at each end of the longitudinal valve slit; a rigid'element. within the closure on each side of the longitudinal slit. afilxed to the inside of the closure wall with each of said elements having a widthl substanwith one end of the container sealed and a con- I vexo-concave resilient metal closure, for the other end, having a longitudinal valve slit in the end of the closure; a transverse slit at each end of vthe longitudinal valve slit; a lluted portion on each side oi the longitudinal slit having a width substantially the same as the length of the longitudinal slit and having a length with one end substantially coincidental with the longitudinal slit and the other end substantially coincidental with the end of the resilient closure adjacent the container with said fluted portions being adapted to cause the longitudinal valve slit to open upon the application 'of digital pressure.

8. The'combnation of a container for powders with one end oi the container lsealed and the other end of the container provided with a convexoconcave closure of resilient material; a longitudinal valve slit in the top of the closure abutted by a transverse slit on each end; and a portion, each side of .the longitudinal slit adjacent to each of the transverse slits and extending beyond the termination of said slits a distance of the planosurface, substantially reinforced by a metallic element integrally alxed thereto.

9. The combination of a container for powders with one end of the container sealed and the other end of the container provided with a convexo-concave closure of resilient` material; a longitudinal valve slit in the top of the closure abutted by a transverse slit on each end; and a portion each side of the longitudinal slit adjacent to each of the transverse slits a distance of the plano-surface, substantially reinforced by a plurality of utes.

10. The combination of a container with one end of the container sealed and the other end i the container provided with a conveXo-concave resilient closure having a longitudinal valve slit in the top abutted by a transverse slit on each end; and a portion, each sideof the longitudinal slit adjacent to each of the transverse slits and extending beyond' the termination of said slits a distance of the plano-surface, substantially reinforced.

WILLIAM FREDRICK SMITH. 

